Restoration Ripoff?

[danalewis]

My father died last year. I decided to find his old 1971 Corvette. I bought it. Here's where the story begins;

I was recommended a restorer in Canada. The guy originally quoted me 35 thousand dollars. Then two months into it said maybe it would climb to 40.
But consistently said we were on target. 35 to 40 thousand.

Now he suddenly told me the fibre glass body was more difficult then he thought. New price 60 thousand!!!!!

I said no more money until he sends me a full price list and a final final final total. He did some new estimates and now say's price is 48 thousand plus the 32 I already spent. 80 thousand dollars for a 1970 350. Basic Corvette.

I am heart broken. I don't know what to do. Tow it away in pieces? Pay? Sue him? I feel ripped off and stupid.

Any advice?
He would tell you the car was a difficult job. And that this not out of line.

[Ken B.]

Re: Restoration Ripoff?

If i were you..I would tow it out of there and then sue him..Make sure you take plenty of pics of what he did, make lots of copies of the estimates.That is way to much for what you have.

[danalewis]

Re: Restoration Ripoff?

I think your right. Thank you Ken.

[Eugene B.]

Re: Restoration Ripoff?

Dan,
I'm sorry to hear of your restoration problem and dilemma. I'm not an expert on the topic, but I will offer some information that I know to be factual.

I am restoring a '65 convertible that I have owned since 1970. A complete and original car, but one needing restoration none the less. After 3.5 years of restoration (doing most of the work myself), I've spent approximately $16K.

I still have some body repair, complete paint job, and top to install. A complete lacquer paint job in the Columbus, OH area runs about $8K to $9K. Throw in another few thousand for some minor body work. I will probably spend another $14K on my car. My restoration total will be about $40K.

One Corvette shop in my area charges about $60K-$70K to provide labor, etc. to perform a body-off restoration. Obviously, this varies with the car.

Based on this info., an $80K restoration is certainly on the high side. And if he is asking you $20K to paint your car, that seems high too. As far as what to do, you'll have to soul search that decision. Perhaps having him finish what he's doing now and looking for someone else to finish the car is an idea.

I would not totally abandon the restoration of the car. It's my notion that you will take a significant financial loss on the project. Bottom line, I would look for the least costly way to finish the car to your satisfaction and drive/enjoy it. After all, having your dad's Corvette is a good thing.

Best of luck on your project.

Regards,
Gene

[danalewis]

Re: Restoration Ripoff?

Thanks for writing Gene. I guess I am frusturated because I am no a mechanic or restorer and I expected the original estimate to go up a little once the work began. But twice? Almost three times? I feel like I was drawn in like a fish! A dumb one.
What I can't understand is how an experienced restorer can be so off?
And...this is not NCRS restoration. He told me he wouldn't advise it. So it's supposed to be lots of original parts, but not all and ... now the price feels like an NCRS though!

[Michael L.]

Re: Restoration Ripoff?

I'd get all the parts purchased and an itemized list of prices. Also, ask about a break down of all hours spent on the car and what tasks were performed by the hour. You'll find the parts are marked up from the wholesale price which is common, they make profits on all of that, also, check on "shop supplies" sometimes you can pay for a shops monthy purchases if you don't know what was used on your car...

With shop labor at $60- $80 an hour and even higher in some areas, it is easy to hit some huge numbers.I'm doing the vast majority of my rebuild and the hours I have spent is mind boggling and mine is a driver quality resto.

For grins, I asked a local shop how much to rebuild my C1 steering box. The box and shaft are out of the car, the gears are out and the box is grease free and clean. To buy a rebuild kit is $425 + tax and shipping, labor to reassemble can't be more than two hours. This shop quoted me $1295.00 + tax to rebuild. Some mark up huh? I'll be doing it myself soon....

Does you area have a review board for automotive repairs that are disputed? Maybe you can mediate with them before the expense of lawyers.

[Rob A.]

Re: Restoration Ripoff?

It sounds like he is trying to make it seem like you've invested too much to stop now and take the car elsewhere for finishing. Like some of the other responses have suggested, I'd ask for a detailed account of the work done so far(parts and labor) with an explanation of exactly what caused the large increase in cost to date. I would tell him you'd like to settle up and have the car finished elsewhere unless you can get an agreed upon price in writing for the remainder of the work. Hopefully, if he sees you're serious about having the car finished by someone else, he will be reasonable in order to have the opportunity to complete it himself.

Good Luck....

[Michael W.]

Re: Restoration Ripoff?

The fact that it's a 1971 and a 350 base engine car is almost irrelevant- you could spend the same on a '76 base engine automtic, or a real '67 427/435. You could also spend 1/10th that amount, or ten time the amount. There's plenty of cases of people spending crazy amounts on these cars.

Only you can decide whether it's worthwile or not, or to what level of detail you want it restored.

Were clear targets, expectations, time tables, and budgets established before the job began?

[Tony Merendino]

Re: Restoration Ripoff?

I agree with the previous posters. Tell him to stop the work now. Did you have the initial estimate in writing? Have him give you a detailed estimate of exactly what parts were purchased and their cost and exactly what labor was performed and the detailed cost. Also a thorough explaination of what made his original estiomate of $35K not hold up. I would then ask him for the old parts removed from the car that were replaced and then tow it out of there and check everything out. If there are any problems with his accounting ask him to explain it and then sue him. If he is an experienced restorer there is no reason why he should have a 125% cost overrun. If he is trying to rip you off hat is the best way to do it suck you in and keep increasing the cost of the restoration. I would not let him turn another screw until everything was explained to my satisfaction.

[David W.]

Re: Restoration Ripoff?

You mentioned the restorer is in Canada. Are the dollar amounts you mention in Canadian dollars or converted to US$?

[Chris Ward]

Re: Restoration Ripoff?

I think the restorer made a huge mistake in the original estimate.
Either that or he was trying to 'rope you in'. Given the advice below, you must have thought 35K was a good deal.




Original post about car

[Robert Willis]

Re: Restoration Ripoff?

I think by Law in Ontario he has to stay with in a 10% range of his quote.

Bob

[Michael W.]

I thought this car sounded familiar

and it sounds like the first round of advice had no effect.

[Jack U.]

Re: Restoration Ripoff?

If you have the original paperwork with the original estimate with no caveat wording about limiting extra costs, I think you have a case to file suit.

I would definitely have the restoration stopped.

I can tell you that I did a frame on restoration for $41,000 on my 1963 and that's what I would gauge any other restoration on. My car is now worth more than I put in to it financially. The cost of my restoration made sense but there are probably others who overspent their budget and are "in the hole" from a value estimate perspective.

You have to ask yourself, "Is the money worth it?" I understand that you want to honor your father but would your father (if alive) want you to go down this path given what just happened?

It seems to me that there are other restoration shops that would treat you and the memory of your father with more respect.

[Richard S.]

Re: Restoration Ripoff?

Dana,

Where are you located and where is the restorer located........exactly.